Contamination and mortality of leaf-cutting ant workers by the quinone inside inhibitor fungicide after social interactions.

Leaf-cutting ants of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are the most important pests in forest and agricultural plantations and livestock. Toxic baits are the main method to manage these insects. The objective was to determine whether the behavior of allogrooming, touch, and self-grooming among Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers disperse the fungicide quinone inside inhibitor and whether this product is toxic to them.

Allogrooming, Self-grooming, and Touching Behavior as a Mechanism to Disperse Insecticides Inside Colonies of a Leaf-Cutting Ant.

Toxic baits, containing the active ingredients sulfluramid or fipronil, are the main methods to control leaf-cutting ants of the genera Atta Fabricius, 1805, and Acromyrmex Mayr, 1865 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). However, the insecticide dispersion among members of the colony during the control needs further studies. We studied whether the behaviors of allogrooming, self-grooming, and contact among individuals spread the insecticides among those of the colony.

Effects of Entomopathogenic Fungi on Individuals as Well as Groups of Workers and Immatures of Leaf-Cutting Ants.

In 2009, sulfluramid, the main ingredient in toxic baits for leaf-cutting ant control, was included in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. This resulted in interest in the use of entomopathogenic fungi such as and for leaf-cutting ant control. The efficiency of these fungi in controlling these insects and the way that ants react individually or in group to the biological risks posed by these fungi is poorly understood.

Allogrooming, Self-Grooming, and Touching Behavior: Contamination Routes of Leaf-Cutting Ant Workers Using a Fat-Soluble Tracer Dye.

The aim of this study was to determine whether worker self-grooming, allogrooming, and direct contact promotes the dispersal of substances among members of the colony. For this purpose, a tracer (Sudan III dye) was applied topically to a worker ant and the social interactions between the worker with the tracer and workers without the tracer were studied. Additionally, the worker heads were dissected to visualize whether or not the post-pharyngeal gland was stained.

Lumber quality of Eucalyptus grandis as a function of diametrical position and log steaming.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of log steaming and of the diametrical position of boards on the timber quality of Eucalyptus grandis. Logs with diameters between 20 and 25 cm, between 25 and 30 cm and between 30 and 35 cm were studied. Half of logs were kept in its original condition, and the other half was steamed at 90 degrees C for 20 h.